The Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum (FPEF) have appointed a new chief executive officer, Piet de Jager. He will take over the reins from Anton Kruger, who has been at the helm for the past 14 years.
When Kruger’s contract ended in 2022, the FPEF board requested to postpone his retirement by three years.
Kruger, who is stepping down at 68, said he is thankful to the FPEF board members for their consistent support during his tenure. “I also appreciate both the victories and the challenges that I have navigated alongside my team, as well as the human connections made,” he reflects.
An illustrious career
De Jager is a qualified chartered accountant (SA). He held CEO roles at Agrimall Africa (Pty) Ltd and AgriSA Enterprises, and served as MD at Ecofarma Southern Africa and director at Into Africa Solution Services (Pty) Ltd T/A Afrilogic.
He kicked off his career as an accountant and manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc, after which he joined his family’s farming business in KwaZulu-Natal, producing Queen pineapples for local and international markets, running a Brangus stud farm, and managing a tourism and game venture for international tourists.
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“There, De Jager also held various positions where he immersed himself in organised agriculture. He then moved to Deloitte Consulting, where he was exposed to various clients in the agriculture sector across the African continent.
“Collectively, De Jager’s illustrious career across the agriculture value chain has equipped him with vital skills in strategic relationship building, and development and implementation of targeted strategies for large commercial impact. Over the past 20 years, he has built a deep understanding of how policy, trade, market development, transformation and innovation intersect in the sector,” the FPEF stated.
De Jager expressed his excitement to join the FPEF as an enabler of global competitiveness at this critical stage, and to build on the legacy of integrity and impact.
“It is an honour to be part of shaping the FPEF’s next chapter in service of our members, our industry and our country,” he said.
To ensure a smooth transition, Kruger has committed to working closely with De Jager until the end of 2025. The FPEF board thanked Kruger for his focused leadership and commitment and looks forward to working with De Jager to glean from his skills.
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